Girdle



' M. GOODMAN Nov. 23, 1937.

GIRDLE Filed May 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvEN-ron v Marhn GoodmanATTORNEYS Nov. 23, 1937.

M. OOODMAN GIRDLE Filed- May 8, 19:56

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Goodman ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 2 3, 1937GIRDLE Martin Goodman, New York, N`. Y., asslgnor to The Neatform Co.J`Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 8,1936, Serial No. '18,530

17 Claims.

This invention relates to girdles, and more particularly to elasticgirdles for feminine wear.

Flexible girdles partially knit with Lastex or other elastic yarn haveproved to be popular for feminine wear but suffer from the disadvantagethat the girdle follows the contour of the body even where there areundesirable bulges. Many women desire a small amount of corrective orstay action in addition to the mere elastic girdle effect.

I have found that it is not feasible to merely back a part of the girdlewith a stayed or boned A corset-like member, because the constructioninterferes with free stretching of the girdle, thus making it difficultto draw--on and uncomfortable to Wear. I have further found that even ifthe girdle is backed with additional stay supporting material which isitself elastic, the resulting girdle is nevertheless unsatisfactorybecause of the difficulty of stretching'the several layers of elasticmaterial.

'The primary object of the present invention is to generally improvegirdles of the character here under discussion, and to provide the samewith a preferably boned supporting panel which will effectively supporta desired localized part of the body against bulging and yet which willnot interfere with drawing-on the girdle; which will not proveuncomfortable to wear; and the parts of which will not wrinkle or rollup but will instead be maintained in smooth unrioticeable conline 6 4 ofFig.l 3;

dition during wear.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which willhereinafter appear, my

' invention consists in the girdle and support elements, and theirrelation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularlydescribed in the specication'and sought to be defined in the claims. Thespecification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows one form of girdle embodying features of my invention inuse;

Fig'. 2'is afront elevationof the girdle turned inside-out;

Fig. 3 is a similar elevation showing the upper part of the girdle instretched condition;

Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane of the Fig. 5 is a section takenin the planeof the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig'. 6 is a rear elevation of a modified form of girdle in invertedcondition;

Fig.'7 shows the modified girdle in use;

Fig. 8 is a section through the girdle right side out and is taken in aplane indicated by the line 8--8 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of thelupper part of the girdle in invertedcondition.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, the main bodyof the girdle I2 may be of conventional type,it being knit with asuitable yarn preferably including horizontally or circumferentiallyextending laid-in elastic threads such as that commercially known asLastex, If desired, some of the knit threads may also be elasticthreads. By reason of the knitting andthe threads employed, the girdleis given considerable elasticity predominantly in a circumferentialdirection.

The girdle is further provided with a supporting panel I4 having securedtherein suitable bones or stays I6. In thev particular girdle hereillustrated, the supporting panel I2 is localized at the stomach and isintended to support the same against projection.

Referring now to Fig. 2 in which the girdle hasbeen turned inside-out, Imay explain that the panel I4 is preferably made of inelastic wovenmaterial. 'I'his material may, if desired, be relatively thin, an extrastrip of material being provided at and stitched around each of thestays or bones I6, to hold the latter in place (see Fig. 4). The upperedge of the panel is secured to the upper edge ofl'the girdle atspaced-points, in this case the three points of stitching I8, 20, and22. The panel is in arelatively loose or folded or plaited conditionbetween the points of stitching, the folds or plaits being clearlyindicated at 24 and 26. These plaits are formed when the girdle is inunstretched or contracted position, and the plaits may extend to thebottom of the panel, but in the drawings the bottom has been shownstraight in order to emphasize the fact that the panel is secured to thegirdle at only thev top edge. The corners 28 and 30, as well as thelower edge 32 of the panel, are all free of the girdle, and there is nointerference with or stitching to the knitted body of the girdle. Thestitching at the top edge of the girdle is, of course, secure because itmay be taken through the u'sual elastic tape or binding v3l! extendingaround the top of the girdle.

When the girdle is drawn-on, the top edge readily stretches to normaldimension because there is only a single thickness of elastic materialbetween the stitched points I8, 20, and 22. In other words, the stretchor action of the girdle is justI as free as though the panel I4 were notapplied thereto, this being true until the panel has been drawn taut ordrawn out to the flat condition indicated in Fig. 3. The parts are soproportioned that at this time the girdle is stretched to or nearly tothe waist size of the wearer.

In order to hold the panel down even though it is free of the girdle atits lower edge, Il provide elastic tapes 36 the upper ends of which aresecured to the corners 28 and 30 of the panel, and the lower ends ofwhich are secured to the bottom edge 38 of the girdle. The girdle isprovided with front garters 40, and it is important to note that theelastic tapes 36 are secured to the bottom edge of the girdle at thepoints of attachment of the garters 4I).v With this arrangement, thepull of tapes 36 is transmitted directly to the garters 40, as isclearly shown in Fig. l, and this counteracts any tendency of the tapes36 to pull or roll the bottom edge of the girdle upwardly. In fact, asingle continuous elastic may be used for the tapes 36 and the garters4I), but in the present case I employ separate elastic tapes, the tapes36 being narrower and lighter than the garters 40.

In accordance with a further refinement of the present girdle, I providetriangular diagonal elastic supports 42 at the sides of the panel I4.These supports are essentially triangular pieces cut from broad elastictape, the elastic threads being disposed diagonally, that is, paralleltothe outermost edge of the supports. The inside or upright edge 44 ofsupport 42 is stitched to the adjacent side edge of panel I4. The toporI horizontal edge 46 of the support is stitched to the top edge of thegirdle, preferably within the binding 34. Supports 42 thus function tohold the panel in place and form a strong anchorage for the panel whichdoes not, however, in any way interfere with the desired looseness orplaiting of the panel .relative to the girdle. 'I'he diagonal supportsserve an additional function in tending to hold the panel out in fiatcondition, there being a certain amount of tension directed laterally bythe supports. It will be understood that the supports 42 are themselvessecured to the girdle solely at the top edge of the girdle, and that thevertical seams connecting the side edges of the panel to the supports 42do not extend through the body of the girdle.

Thus, referring to Fig. 4, which is a section taken in the plane of theline 4-4 of Fig. 3, it will be seen that the panel I4, stayed at I6, isstitched to the elastic supports 42 by lines of stitching 44, yet noneof the stitching in any way connects the panel or supports with the bodyof the girdle I2. The construction is also indicated by Fig. 5 in whichit will be seen that the elastic support 42 is secured to the body ofgirdle I2 solely at the top edge or binding 34 bythe line of stitching48.

To illustrate the fact that the invention may be applied to the supportof other parts of the body, I further disclose a different form ofgirdle in Figs. 6 through 8. This girdle is provided with a relativelylong 'panel 50 extending substantially from the top edge 52 to thebottom edge 54 of the girdle the body 56 of which is knit as previouslydescribed. In Fig. 6 the girdle has been turned inside-out, thusbringing the panel 5I) on the outside, but it will be understood that inordinary use the panel is on the inside. This panel is located at theback of the girdle and is intended to support the buttocks or rear partof the body of the wearer. The location of the panel in -use is clearlyindicated in Fig. 7. The manner .in which the panel 50jis bonedor'stayed by inserts 58 is also evident from inspection of the drawings.

Panel 50, 'like that previously described, is preferably made of aninelastic woven material. The panel is secured to the top edge 52 of thegirdle solely at the corners, as is indicated by the stitching 60 and62. These points of stitching are much closer together than the Width ofthe panel, when the girdle is in unstretched or contracted condition asshown in Fig. 6. As a. result, the panel folds or plaits itself freelybetween the points of stitching 60 and 62, this being indicated at 64 inthe drawings. The remainder of the panel is entirely free of the bodyportion 56 of the girdle. The lower edge 66 of the panel is in no waysecured to the lower edge of the girdle. However, I provide elastictapes 68 which extend between the corners of the panel and the loweredge of the girdle, the tapes being secured to the panel at the points'I0 and being secured to the lower edge of the girdle at the points 12.The latter points are located at or immediately adjacent-the points ofattachmentv 14 of the garters 16 of the girdle. Because of thisarrangement, the'garters help hold the panel and girdle in taut smoothcondition, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7. It will be understood that theelastic tapes 68 do not tend to roll or fold up the bottom edge of thegirdle, this being prevented largely by reason of the counteractingtension of the garters 16.

and panel. With thisv construction, one edge of triangular insert 'I8 isstitched to the side edge of the panel, while another edge of thetriangular insert is stitched to the top edge of the girdle by a line ofstitching 82, the latter stitching preferably holding the insert withinthe binding tape 84 extending around the top edge of the girdle. It will'be understood that the binding tape 64 is itself made of elasticmaterial so las not to interfere with free stretching of the girdle.'I'he main elastic strands in the insert or support 18 preferably extenddiagonally, that is, parallel to the outside edge of the triangle.,

As so far described, the girdle shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be providedwith only the back panel. However, the girdle may be and in this case isadditionally providedwith a front support panel much like thatpreviously described. The present panel differs slightly, however, inbeing located at a point spaced downwardly somewhat from the top edge ofthe girdle, as is indicated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In this figure;it will b'e noted that the stayed or boned stomach supsirable point.

Fig. 8 is a section taken through the girdle approximately in the plane'oi. the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 but with the girdle turned right side out.:This

gure helps illustrate the fact that the panels and 86 and the diagonalelastic supports 18 and 88 are entirely free of the body 56 of thegirdle. Inspection of this figure also shows how the stays 58 and 96 arestitched in place on the side of panel 86 facing the girdle. It furthershows the manner in which the loosely disposed panels fold up or plaitwhen the girdle is in unstretched or contracted condition.

It is believed that the construction and use of my improved' girdle, asWell as the many advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoingdetailed description. The girdle yields freely in acircumferentialdirection and consequently may be drawn on the body of the wearer withease. It is also 'comfortable to wear. Nevertheless, unlike an ordinaryelastic girdle, it does no t simply follow'the contour of the bodybutprovides a corset or stay action at desired parts of the body. Thissupporting eifect may be localized in accordance with thenecessities ofthe particular wearer. The manner in which the4 support panels aremounted on the girdle provides for freedom of stretch and at the sametime insures that the panel and girdle are each independently held downin smooth taut condition over the body. The elastic means provided forholding the. panels in a downward direction do not tend to fold or rollup the bottom edge of the girdle because 4the tension is transferreddirectly to the garters. The girdle presents a smooth exterior, and,except for the desired corrective eect, its

- A use is unnoticeable through even a thin dress.

It will therefore be'apparent that while I have shown and described myinvention in preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be madein the structures disclosed, without departing from the spirit oftheinvention, dened in the following claims.

I claim:

1;v A garment `comprising a knit yieldable foundation garment, a panelattached to the garment at a point to be stayed, said panel being sosecured to the garment -that it is loose-when the garment is inunstretched condition, thereby aording free yielding of the elasticmaterial when the garment is'stretched, until the slack in the panel istaken up, stays or bones stitched in place in said panel or support,`garters depending from the lower edge of the garment, and

lns

elastic .tapes extending from the lower corners of the panel or supportto the bottom edge of the garment, thelower ends-of said elastic tapesbeing connected to the garment substantially at the points of connectionof the garters. A

2. A garment comprising a knit circumferentially yieldable girdle of theroll-on" type, the top and bottom edges of said girdle being reinforced,an inelastic panel or support at a point to be stayed, said panel beingmade of inelastic woven fabric so secured to the top edge of the girdlethat it is loose or folded or plaited when the girdle is in unstretchedcondition, thereby aifording free yielding of the elastic material whenthe girdle is stretched, until the panel is taut, stays or bonesstitched in place in said panel or support, and elastic tapes extendingfrom the lower corners of the panel or support downwardly to the bottomedge of the girdle, said panel being free of the girdle except forconnections to the reinforced top and bottom edges thereof.

3. A .garment comprising a knit circumferentially yieldable body, aninelastic panel attached to the garment 'at a point to be stayed, saidVpanel being made of inelastic woven fabric so secured to the garmentthat it is loose or plaited when the garment is in unstretchedcondition, thereby affording free yielding of the elastic ma'- terialwhen the garment is stretched, until the panel is taut, gartersdepending from the lower edge of the garment, and elastic tapesextending from the lower corners of the panel or support downwardly tothe bottom edge of the garment, the lower ends of said elastic tapesbeing connected to the garment substantially at the points of connectionof the garters. i

4. A foundationgarment comprising a knit yieldable '.body, a panelattached to the garment at a point to be stayed, said panel being sosecured to the garment that it is loose ox' plaited when the garment isin unstretched condition, thereby aifording free yielding of the elasticmaterial when the garment is stretched, until the slack in the panel istaken up, stays or bones stitched in place in said panel or support, anddiagonal elastic supports at the outside of the panel, one end of eachsupport being stitched to the adjacent upright edge of the panel, andthe other end of the support being stitched to the upper edge of theknit yieldable body.

5. A foundation garment comprising a knitstretched condition, therebyaording free yielding of the elastic material when the garment isstretched, until the panel istaut, stays or bones stitched in place insaid panel or support, and triangular diagonal elastic supports at the,outside of the panel, the upright edge of. each support being stitchedto the adjacent upright edge of the panel, and the horizontal edgeVbeing stitched to the upper edge of the garment, -the elastic strandsin said supports extending in a diagonal direction. Y A

6. A foundation garment comprising a knit circumferentially yieldablebody, an inelastic panel attached to the body, said panel being made ofinelastic woven fabric so secured tothe body at the top edge thereofthat it is loose or plaited when the body is in unstretched condition,thereby affording free yielding of the elastic material when the body isstretched, until the panel is taut, diagonal elastic supports outsidethe panel, garters depending from the loweJl edge of the body, andelastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panel to thebottom edge of the ody, the lower ends ofsaid elastic tapes beingonnected to the body substantially at the points of connection of thegarters.

'7. A garment comprising a knit yieldable girdle, a vertically-stayed orboned panel attached at spaced points to the girdle at the upper edgethereof, said panel being so secured to the girdle that it is loose orplaited when the girdle is in unstretched condition, thereby Aaffordingfree yielding of the. elastic material when the girdle is stretched,until the slack in the panel is taken up, diagonal elastic supports atthe outside of the panel, and elastic tapes extending from the lowercorners of the panel to the bottom edge of the girdle, the iside andbottom edges of the panel being free and unstitched to the knit girdle.

8. A garment comprising a knit circumferentially -yieldable girdle, aninelastic verticallystayed or boned panel attached to the inside of itis loose or plaited when the girdle is in unthe girdle at the upper edgethereof, said panel being made of inelastic woven fabric so secured tothe girdle that it is loose or plaited when the girdle is in unstretchedcondition, thereby anording free yielding of the elastic material when.the girdle is stretched, until the panel is taut,

, triangular diagonal elasticsupports at the outside yof the panel, theupright edge of each supportbeing stitched to the upright edge of thepanel, and the horizontal edge being stitched to the upper edge of thegirdle, the elastic strands in said supports extending in a diagonaldirection, garters depending from the lower edge of the girdle, andelastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panel to thebottom edge of the girdle, the lower ends of said elastic tapes beingconnected to the girdle substantially at the points of connection of thegarters.

9. A garment comprising a knit yieldable girdle, a vertically-stayed orboned panel attached to the girdle at the front upper edge thereof inorder .to support the stomach of the wearer, said panel being so securedto the girdle that it is loose or plaited when the girdle is inunstretched .'condition, thereby affording :free yielding of the elasticmaterial when the girdle is stretched, until the slack in the panel istaken up; diagonal elastic supports at the outside of the panel, one endof each support being stitched to the upright edge of the panel, and theother end being stitched to the upper edge of the girdle, gartersdepending from the lowerv edge of the girdle, and elastic tapesextending from the lower corners of the panel to the bottom edge of thegirdle, the lower ends of said'elastic tapes being connected to thegirdle substantially at the the girdle at the front upper edge thereofinorder to support the stomach of the wearer, said panel being made ofinelastic woven fabric. so

secured tothe girdle that it is loose or plaited when the girdle is inunstretched i condition, thereby affording free yielding of the elasticmaterial when the girdle is stretched, until the panel is taut,triangular diagonaLelastic supports at the outside of the panel, theupright edge of each support being stitched to the upright edge of thepanel, and the horizontal edge being stitched to the upper edge of thegirdle, the elastic strands in said supports extending in a diagonaldirection, garters depending from the lower edge of the girdle, andelastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panel andtriangular supports downwardly to the bottom edge of the girdle, thelower ends of said elastic tapes being connected to the girdlesubstantially at the points of connection of the garters.

11. A garment comprising a knit yieldable girdle, a vertically-stayedor.boned panel attached to the girdle at the back thereof in order tosupport the buttocks or rear part of the body of the wearer, said panelbeing so secured at spaced points to the girdle at the top edge thereofthat it is loose or plaited when the girdle is in unstretched condition,`thereby aiording free yielding of the elastic material when the girdleis stretched, until the slack in the panel is taken up, diagonal elasticsupports outside the panel at` the upper end thereof, and elastic tapesextending from the lower corners 0f the panel to the bottom edge of thegirdle, the side and lbottom Vedges of the panel being free andunstitched aiaics to the knit girdle the lower ends of said elastictapes being connected to the girdlev substantially' at the points ofconnection of the garters.

12. A garment comprising a knit .circumferentially yieldable girdle, aninelastic verticallystayed or boned panel attached to the inside of thegirdle at the back thereof in order to support the .buttocks or rearpart of the body of the wearer, said panel being made of inelastic wovenfabric so secured to the girdle at the top edge thereof that it is looseor plaited when the girdle is in unstretched condition, therebyaffording free yielding of the elastic material when the girdleisstretched, until'the panel is taut, triangular diagonal elasticsupports outside the panel at the upper end thereof, the upright edge ofeach support being stitched to the adjacent upright edge of the panel,and the horizontal edge being stitched to the upper edge of the girdle,the elastic strands in said supports extending in a diagonal direction,garters depending from the lower edge of the girdle, and elastic tapesextending from the lower 'corners of the panel to the bottom edge of thegirdle, the lower ends of said elastic tapes 'being connected to thegirdle substantially at the points of connection of the garters.

13. A garment comprising a knit circumferento the girdle at the frontupper edge thereof in order to support the stomach of the wearer,another inelastic panel attached to the girdle at the back thereof inorder to s upport the buttocks or rear part of the body of the wearer,said panels being made of inelastic woven fabric so secured to thegirdle at the upper edge thereof that they are loose or folded orplaited when the girdle is in unstretched condition, thereby affordingfree yielding of the elastic material when the girdle is stretched,until the panels are taut, garters depending from the lower edge of thegirdle, and elastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panelsto the bottom edge of the girdle at the garters.

14. A garment comprising a knit yieldable girdle, a vertically-stayed orboned panel attached to the girdle at the front upper edge thereof inorder to support the stomach of the wearer, another vertically-stayed orboned panel attached to the girdle at the back thereof in order to sup-Y tially yieldable girdle, an inelastic panel attached port the buttocksor rear part of the body 0f the wearer, said panels being so secured tothe girdle at the upper edge thereof that they are loose or plaited whenthe girdle is in unstretched condition, thereby aifording free yieldingof the elastic material when the girdle is stretched, until the slack inthe panels is taken up, diagonal elastic supports outside the panels,garters depending from the lower edge of the girdle, and

elastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panels to thebottom edge of the girdle at the garters.

made of inelastic woven fabric so secured to the girdle at the upperedge thereof that they are loose or plaited when the girdle is inunstretched condition, thereby affording free yielding of the elasticmaterial when the girdle is stretched, until the panels are taut,triangular diagonal elastic supports outside the panels, the uprightedge of each support being stitched to the adjacent upright edge of apanel, and the horizontal edge being stitched to the top edge of thegirdle, the elastic strands in said supports extending in a diagonaldirection, garters depending from the lower edge of the girdle, andelastic tapes extending from the lower corners of the panels to thebottom edge of the girdle at the garters.

16. A garment comprising a tubular knit yieldable girdle of the roll-ontype, the top and bottom edges oi said girdle being reinforced, a panelattached .to the girdle at a point to be stayed, the edges of said panelbeing free and unstitched to said knit girdle, and means connecting thecorners of said panel to the aforesaid reinforced top and bottom edgesonly of the girdle, there beingno connection to the girdle atintermediate points between the tog and bottom edges, the connectingmeans being yieldable so that the panel and girdle are relativelyself-adjustable, and the panel is slack when the girdle is inunstretched condition thereby aiording vfree yielding of the elasticmaterial when the girdle is stretched.

17. A garment comprising a tubular knit yieldable girdle of the roll-ontype, the top and bottom edges of saidgirdle being reinforced, aninelastic panel attached to the inside of the girdle at a point to bestayed, the top and bottom edges of said panel being free and unstitchedto the knit non-reinforced body of said girdle, elastic means connectingthe side edges of said panel to the aforesaid reinforced top and bottomedges only of the girdle, there being no connection to the girdle atintermediate points between the top and bottom edges, the connectingmeans being yieldable and so 'proportioned that the panel is slack orpleated when the girdle is in unstretched

